SC RAPS PUNJAB GOVT AS DALLEWAL'S HEALTH WORSENS

The court asked Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh to persuade Dallewal to take medical treatment for a week at least saying others could continue with the protest. However, Singh has sought a day's time to convince Dallewal. Then bench posted the matter on December 20.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

With the condition of the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal turned critical on Thursday, the Supreme Court again reprimanded the Punjab government for not taking the required steps and providing medical assistance to the farmer leader.

Continuing hearing on the issue of farmers’ protest for the second consecutive day on Thursday, the Supreme Court has asked the Punjab Government to take immediate steps and persuade Dallewal to take treatment for a week and other farmers can continue their protest.

Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast at Khanauri border for the past 22 days fell unconscious on Thursday and recovered after 10 minutes.

“No one is trying to uproot farmers’ protest, we are only trying to ensure the safety of their leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Court will talk to Dallewal once he is safe,” A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said observing that no one was trying to uproot the farmers’ protest, it only wanted to ensure Dallewal’s safety, calling him a “mass leader”.